Ecosystem Vulnerability Profile

Ecosystem Resources Vulnerability Profile

• What values and benefits do natural resources provide?

• What natural resources are exposed to current and future stressors?

• What vulnerabilities exist?

• What can we do about it?

Protective Functions

• Storm Buffering

• Flood Protection

• Erosion Control

Economic and Societal Value

• Water Quality

• Wildlife Habitat

• Food Production

• Recreation

What ecosystem resources are exposed?

• Wetlands

• Water supply, quality

• Resources for subsistence livelihoods

• Beaches, natural areas

What ecosystem vulnerabilities exist?

• Exposure and sensitivity to land development practices

• Habitat fragmentation

• Human uses

• Exposure to hazards and hazardous materials

Public Safety and Social Services

• Why Should I care?

• Hazardous spills = public safety issue

• Mangroves and salt marsh provide protective functions to reduce flooding

• Less development in the floodplain = less people and property at risk

• Livelihoods, economic, health and cultural benefits

Infrastructure

• Why should I care?

• Services: Water supply, quality, stormwater management, energy

• Conserved areas = Less infrastructure in harms way

• Protective functions

Planning and Development

• Why should I care?

• Provides for green infrastructure approach

• Flood protection

• Quality of life

• Water quality

Environment, Culture, Recreation

• Why should I care?

• Economic, recreational, and cultural values

• Protective functions

• Biodiversity

Example Actions

• Include hazard and vulnerability information in hazardous facilities permitting process

• Add flood and stormwater considerations to impervious surface evaluations

• Conserve high ecosystem value lands for habitat migration

• Purchase land located in floodways and floodplain

Your Charge

• Identify main concerns about the County’s ecosystem vulnerabilities and sustainability challenges to current and future stressors

• Identify how existing decision-making processes can improve concerns

• Identify actions to address these concerns